San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-10

from the white brow over her pretty
ears, and was fastened in knot; fast
ened. though its lovely golden ringlets
escaped.
II would give ~ rig rgnl for hair
like that. tJougt !. yH %. Why
could not have a., y It things
are always given 10 "a "a! persons.
If had had hair like IN ! would have
been "a duchess AT least
Lady May thought q l'I, Where
and how has coUnir MI acquired
r. tha. or &c and rein, - w.?
Ruth looked like It; II mite lily; they
could not help admirinL ugr. IFdy Ger
ton noticed one thipg-trat when duty
Of any kind brought her IEtJ ttl room,
Eric was less than ever hike 4 lover; was
mOrt Ill at ease than ever. and she drew
her own conclusions.
1--WE have not come one day too sOon,"
she said to herself over and over again,
that is, if May really cares for him.
Both ladies were well pleased with
the nice little dinner that Mrs. Vaug-
han served up to them. When il was
over. Lady May proposed that they
shorld have wine and fruit out under
the trees. She was good-natured and
by 10 means proud.
You have some good champagne,
ESllC. sic Nstlu. NY ldNblitt Dldllu.
The one thing that really tries my nerves
is inferior Wine"
Il did not think you had any nerves."
said Eric.
You could not pay me greater COM
| pliment," she replied. and in truth Lady
May was far more delighted than if her
lover had complimPntnd her on beauty
or talent. Her good nature was in the
ascendant.
"Shall ask the-the Young person
who assisted us to takes glass of wine?"
she asked, and Lady Gerton noticed
how his face flushed when he answer
ed
NO; she would not care about it."
Although the sun shone. and the flow
ers bloomed fair, although the table UNI
der the trees was laden with fruit. the
party gathered round it was not very
cheerful one.
Your illness has greatly changed
you. Eric.n said Lady MAY. ':You seem
to have lost all your spirits"
He tried then to rouse himself and do
his best; but his thoughts were all with
Bonnie Doom, and what lie was to do.
He loved one woman, and was engaged
to marry another.
What could he do? The engagement
to Lady May bound him fast. and was
of long standing. but he loved Bonnie
Doom, and the love was new. sweet. and
bewildering to him, as it was to her.
What should he do? Obey the dictates
of honor and marry Lady May, or obey
the voice of his heart and marry Bonnie
DOOM
While they talked of Paris and Lon
don, of court and opera; while they dis
cussed the affairs of relatives and
friends, he was asking himself the gues-
ton, what was he to do. and for the first
time it occurred tohim that he had already
done wrong, that he ought not to have
made petted favOrite of this beautiful
girl while he was engaged to marry an
other woman. Who could have thought,
he asked himself. that this would have
happened? He nd never taken love
into account when laying pla IS for his
life. Now, quite sudd nly. it proved to
be his life's ruler.
"There is only one comfort in it ALL"
he said to himself. and th.t is Il have
not done wrong on purpose.
Still The ladies talked On. and the sun
shOne. and the flowers blOOmed. Sud-
denly Lady May caught sight of Ruth
going 10 feed the pigeons.
What strange thing TO see such
refined looking girl in country farm
mouse, ETC, Sbe SAID.
The fairest flowers bloom quite I'M
seem" replied her lover, and she opened
her brown eyes in wonder.
How pOetical you are. Eric. Well,
she is like flower. | wish she would
come to us. should liket to talk to her.
noticed something strange about her
accent-,;U,te provincial,
How the words Jared upon him who
could not think of Bonnie Doom as any
thing but the sweetest, dearest, and most
perfect.
''She sings very sweetly." he said; 81
have never heard a more musical voice."
and as he spoke the words rose before
him in letters of fire.
MY fausc lover stole the rose,
But ahl he left tn" thorn wi me-
Lady GertOn laughed.
Music is such a common accomplish
ment, . she said. lin these days; the real
distinction is neither to play nor sing"
Il do not see how that affects the
beauty of the g.ri voice" said Eric,
CURLY, and Lady Gerton laughed again;
she was growing more and more sure
that her ideas were correct. Then Ruth
passed so near the end of the garden
where they were seated. that Eric said
to her
Miss Vaughan, Lady May Carleton
would like to see you.
Never was so fair a picture as Ruth
when she came in obedience to her
lovers summons. lie might we'll in his
own mind. compare her to tall, sweet
white lily: the sunshine lay on her hair,
the fairest bloom on her beautiful face;
there, too, shone love. pride, fear, tim
idity. and the whole made her so glori-
ouSly beautiful that the two fashionable
ladies looked at her in wonder.
She hardly saw them: she knew they
were there; it was her lovers dark,
handsome face that drew her eyes,-her
heart; they were less than nothing,
great ladies though they were. She saw
and heard only her lover. He rose when
she came forward, and bowed to her.
Lady May Carleton wishes to see
you, Miss Vaughan" he said, with
grave courtesy.
She raised her eyes to his-Only for
one moment; his glance met hers, and
said plainly
Have no fear, will take care of
you"
She would have faced a hundred duch-
esses after that. She looked the fairest
picture of girlish modesty as she stood
before Lady May, shy, and graceful, but
quiet and self-pOssessed. Eric thought
that, in her sweet presence, the two
ladies looked commonplace enough.
And Lady May, strange to say, was
at loss to know how to begin; there
was something in Ruth that made pat
ronage ridiculous.
You have been feeding your pig
cons" she said. by way of commence